Vegas was bounced in the first round in a seven-game loss to the Dallas Stars. Hertl scored once and was minus-6, a shell of the player he’s been historically. It’s different now. Healthy, he’s a player who gives defensemen nightmares in the attacking zone, a raging bull that can’t be controlled and only occasionally contained.

Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy liked what he saw in Game 1 against the Wild and expects more as the series rolls on.

Center Tomas Hertl returned to the lineup for the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken. Hertl led the Golden Knights in goals and was a key player in Vegas’ high-performing power play before getting injured while being slammed into the boards by Tampa Bay defenseman Emil Lilleberg in the Golden Knights’ 4-2 victory over the Lightning on March 23.